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How best to promote physical activity/exercise in clinical populations?
What messages should we give to patients?
What tips can the everyday clinician use?
How best to promote physical activity/exercise in clinical populations?What messages should we give to patients?What tips can the everyday clinician use?
1. There is no "minimum" amount of activity that is beneficial for health:
Determine baseline.
Aim to gradually increase this baseline level.
Set realistic goals for the individual.
Identify barriers, facilitators and help them on their journey. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128112793000136
Determine baseline.Aim to gradually increase this baseline level.Set realistic goals for the individual.Identify barriers, facilitators and help them on their journey. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128112793000136
2. Low intensity activity is health-enhancing:
Higher levels of activity of any activity is associated with 
all-cause mortality.
Reassure people that ALL activity is beneficial regardless of intensity.
As fitness/improves, MVPA can be emphasised.
https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4570.full
Higher levels of activity of any activity is associated with all-cause mortality.Reassure people that ALL activity is beneficial regardless of intensity. As fitness/improves, MVPA can be emphasised.https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4570.full
3. Replacing time spent sitting with ANY activity regardless of intensity is beneficial:
Examine strategies to reduce sitting time.
Reduce the duration of each bout of sitting.
Break sitting with standing breaks or light intensity activity. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acr.23717
Examine strategies to reduce sitting time.Reduce the duration of each bout of sitting. Break sitting with standing breaks or light intensity activity. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acr.23717
4. Benefits not limited to "exercise":
The language we use can impact on behaviours.
Physical activity can be accumulated in many ways (structured and non-structured).
Consider a cumulative measure of activity (e.g. steps per day). https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar2967
The language we use can impact on behaviours.Physical activity can be accumulated in many ways (structured and non-structured).Consider a cumulative measure of activity (e.g. steps per day). https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar2967
5. >5000 steps/day = improved outcomes for ppl with widespread pain:
Benefits of activity happen well below the commonly reported 10k steps/day.
The focus should be more on consistency and making gradual increments rather than adhering to "guidelines". https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acr.22398
Benefits of activity happen well below the commonly reported 10k steps/day.The focus should be more on consistency and making gradual increments rather than adhering to "guidelines". https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/acr.22398
